I think the idea is that the loser of championship games doesn't often get a BCS spot. Fans have just travelled for the championship game and aren't as likely to travel big for a bowl game off a dissapointing loss. Exceptions tend to be when championship games match-up two undefeted teams.

But then we need to be selected over either OSU or Wisconsin, which I don't see happening (OSU because of their recent success, Wisconsin because of their preseason ranking) unless both teams tank somehow. Maybe I'm wrong, who knows.

If Michigan, OSU, and Wisconsin finished 10-2 (one 11-2 or 10-3 after the BTCG) I could see them picking Michigan over the other options. At that point, all of your options are good enough and I'd think that Michigan would draw the largest crowd after the last few years, plus Denard == ratings. If Nebraska loses that game, though, the Fiesta bowl would pick Nebraska to pit them against Oklahoma/Texas.

If Wisconsin/Nebraska are playing, the loser could very well be right up there with the 3/4 exemption, depending on what happens in the SEC. Weird stuff could happen, although I do agree that Michigan is a plausable pick since it's been five years plus Denard.

I click on every one of these stories around the interwebs but always have the same feeling... so glad we can predict how this will all turn out after 2 quarters and change of the season under our belts.

Third place teams with a low number of losses and a high rank usually get into BCS at-large bids over losers of championship games in the same conference. The late loss typically causes the loser to fall behind the third place team in the rankings.

If the defense can pressure the QB with the front four and added blitz packages we may have a chance to beat alot of teams this year! Maybe we should try more stunts and psycho packages like the packers use!

Sounds great to me! I'd love to travel to Tempe in the dead of winter.

Sorry to go off the topic of your post, but this brings up an interesting point, how will the bowl selection work now that we have a conference championship? Since UM and Nebraska are in the same sub-conference, if Nebraska runs the table and plays in the Big 10 championship game and, for the sake of argument, beats a 2 loss team, Nebraska would obviously play in the Rose Bowl (or the BSC title game). Would the team who lost to Nebraska be the second best Big 10 team for purposes of bowl selection?

The top 3 bowl teams choosen were all from the Western Division. Auburn, Arkansas, and Alabama. I'd say it has to do more with rankings than anything else. The bowls can pick whoever they want, within being close enough to the next slot reason. So if Michigan was 11-1, and Nebraska was 13-0 (or 10-2 vs. 12-1 or something), Nebraska could still go to the Rose/Championship game, and Michigan could be a BCS selection, in a given year.

The gist of it (as far as BCS bids go) is that you want to lose your division, not the championship game, for an at-large spot. Three teams have lost their championship and gone on to the BCS: Oklahoma to the championship game in 2003, and then Alabama and Florida in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

Also, having a championship game seemed to really hurt a conference before 2006, when the fifth BCS game was added, and does not seem to have a noticeable effect since then.

The SEC was awarded an at-large bid in 8/13 years. 2/8 went to championship game losers.

The BXII was awarded an at-large bid in 4/13 years. 1/4 went to championship game losers.

The B1G was awarded an at-large bid in 10/13 years.

The Pac was awarded an at-large bid in 3/13 years.

Since 2006, the SEC and B1G have had at-large bids each year; the Pac has had one, the BXII two.

I like it, but wouldn't they take the loser of the Big Ten championship game (Seeing that Nebraska and Michigan are in the same division)? I'd think that would "normally" be the 2nd best team in the conference. Not necessarily always the case, but Wisconsin is looking pretty strong so far.

I don't think that is the case. Say that one division winner is 7-4. Say in the other division, Nebraska is 11-0, and Michigan is 10-1 (just far argument sake). Michigan would probably get the nod. I don't think there is any bowl bonus for finishing second.

What i figured, to be honest. It's also why I said "normally". That is the exact scenario I just played out in my mind (Nebraska and Michigan, 1 and 2). One would have to think about an Iowa or Wisconsin having a big year. Or possibly those other guys that wear the red and white.

FWIW, it happened last year with the SEC West. Auburn went to the MNC game and Arkansas played in a BCS game. Of course last year was really unusual in that the top five teams in the SEC West (Auburn, Arkansas, Alabama, LSU and Mississippi State) were probably all better than the best team in the East. In other words, while I agree with your point most of the time, there can be fairly common exceptions.

I really want to believe this team can be top 3 in the B1G this year, but I just can't see it yet. Beat ND and MSU(Not that MSU is that good, but if Michigan can't beat them ,there's no way they are top tier) and I might hop on the band wagon.